Name |
Immunofixation (Urine)
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Alternative name/Profile |
Bence Jones Protein (BJP), FKFL Ratio, Free Kappa/Lambda chains, FLC, FKC, ELEC, Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP), Multiple Myeloma (MM), IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, GAM, Paraprotein, Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance (MGUS) |
Department |
Immunology |
Investigation |
Immunofixation (Sebia Hydrasys Focusing) |
Specimen type |
Urine (early morning sample)
|
Sample type |
Urine (early morning sample)
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Sample container & volume |
A minimum of 15mls of urine in a Universal Container |
Frequency of analysis |
Daily, Monday to Friday |
Turnaround time |
10 days
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Availability |
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Notes |
Useful for:
- Detecting patients with a monoclonal gammopathy due to monoclonal free light chains.
- Monitoring patients with a monoclonal gammopathy due to monoclonal free light chains.
Clinical Information:
- A monoclonal production of immunoglobulin is a characteristic of a Monoclonal Gammopathy.
- Monoclonal Gammopathies include Multiple Myeloma (MM), Light Chain Multiple Myeloma, Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia, Non-secretory Myeloma, Smouldering Myeloma, Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance (MGUS), Primary Systemic Amyloidosis (AL) and Light Chain Deposition Disease.
- Electrophoresis is usually used to detect and monitor monoclonal proteins, however monoclonal free light chains frequently cannot be detected or quantified on electrophoresis.
- Therefore, as immunofixation is more sensitive than electrophoresis, all urines for investigating Monoclonal Gammopathies have immunofixation performed.
Please Note:
- Only urines that have a monoclonal band detected on immunofixation will have electrophoresis, urinary total protein and a urinary paraprotein level performed. This is requested by the laboratory.
- Occasionally monoclonal free light chains cannot be detected on electrophoresis. On these occasions it is not possible to quantify the urinary paraprotein level.
- Where External Institiutions cannot guarantee immediate delivery samples must be stored at 4oC. Samples can then be transported, as soon as possible, to St. James's Hospital for processing.
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Related links |
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Reference range |
Immunofixation (IF):
Details the absence (no abnormal bands) or presence of a monoclonal protein.
Monoclonal proteins include Free kappa chains (FKC) and Free lambda chains (FLC) (Bence Jones Protein (BJP)) and IgG type Kappa (GK)/IgG type Lambda (GL)/IgA type Kappa (AK)/IgA type Lambda (AL)/IgM type Kappa (MK)/IgM type Lambda (ML).
Bence Jones Protein (BJP):
Negative (No free light chains detected)
Positive (Free light chains detected)
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Last updated |
Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:43:44 IST |
